Mrs. Doris Maxine Coon

1914 - 2008

Doris Maxine (Stephens) Coon was born on October 12, 1914. She was the third daughter of Pearl (Patch) and Vinnie Stephens. She was born on the family farm east of Bedford on Honey Creek. Doris attended country school and graduated with the Class of 1932 in Bedford. After graduation she taught at a rural school east of Bedford.

On May 26, 1936 Doris was united in marriage to John Howard Coon in the home of Leslie Cobb. On May 6, 1937 their son, John Dale, was born on the family farm east of Berea Christian Church. Five years later on June 13, 1942 a daughter, Nancy Lee, was born. Doris was a right-hand man for Howard during his career with the Iowa Conservation Commission.

She wrote hundreds of camping permits and fishing licenses in the numerous state parks they lived in throughout Iowa. Doris was always a hard worker and always had time to help other people. After Howard's retirement in 1973, they moved back to Bedford.

Doris was a charter member of the Bedford Lioness Club. She was known as a great helper. She worked at the bake sales, yard sales, sold handmade novelties at craft fairs, baked pies (gooseberry mostly) for bingo and worked aside her husband at picnics, barbeques, and installations.

She was named Lioness of the Year in 2002 for "Outstanding Dedicated Service Given to Humanity". She was a member of the United Christian Presbyterian Church in Bedford. Doris and Howard spent many winters in McAllen, Texas.

She always enjoyed nature and especially watching birds in both Iowa and Texas. John and she spent many hours bird watching, deer watching and enjoying a trip to the "80". One highlight was their trip to Nebraska to see the sand hill cranes as they migrated. She always enjoyed a good game of cribbage with John.

There could easily be five hundred games in one summer. She also enjoyed Sunday nights with John and Inez, Everett and Janet Tribolet playing chicken foot dominoes and eating popcorn. Another pastime was working word search puzzles and reading many, many, many romance novels. Some were read more than once.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Howard; daughter, Nancy and husband Michael Johnson; sisters, Letha Schurr and Elva Akers; and brother, Orville Stephens.

Surviving are son John (Jan) Coon, Redding, Calif.; grandchildren Janet (Darryl) Cunningham, Redding, Calif.; John W. Coon, San Diego, Calif.; Jeffrey Coon, Los Angeles, Calif.; Steve (Amy) Johnson, Manson, Iowa; Laurie (Kevin) Zehr, Earlham, Iowa; Sherry (Doyle) Carlson, Fort Dodge, Iowa; Elaine Johnson, Cour D'Alene, Idaho; and Jeramy Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.; great-grandchildren Tim (Katrina) Hoke, Eureka, Calif.; Victoria Cunningham, Santa Cruz, Calif.; Marissa Coon, San Diego, Calif.; Sam and Shea Johnson, Manson, Iowa; Emily and Eric Hepperle, Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Aaron and Jacob Johnson, Cour D'Alene, Idaho.

Funeral services were held Saturday, December 13, 2008 at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel in Bedford with Rev. Randy Alman officiating. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford. Memorials are suggested to the Presbyterian-Christian Church Building Fund.
Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel served the family.